Liz Cheney hits Obama over book

Liz Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, says comments attributed to Barack Obama in Bob Woodward’s new book show that the president is “unwilling or unable to do what it takes to keep this nation safe.”

According to the Washington Post, Obama is quoted in Woodward’s book as saying that the United States could “absorb another terrorist attack.”

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“We'll do everything we can to prevent it, but even a 9/11, even the biggest attack ever . . . we absorbed it and we are stronger,” Obama said.

Cheney, the chairwoman of Keep America Safe and a consistent critic of the administration, says the comments show that Obama has resigned himself to the likelihood of another terrorist attack.

“Americans expect our president to do everything possible to defend the nation from attack,” Cheney said. “We expect him to use every tool at his disposal to find, defeat, capture and kill terrorists. We expect him to deter attacks by making clear to our adversaries that an attack on the United States will carry devastating consequences. Instead, President Obama is reported to have said, ‘We can absorb a terrorist attack.’”

“This comment suggests an alarming fatalism on the part of President Obama and his administration,” she added. “Once again the president seems either unwilling or unable to do what it takes to keep this nation safe. The president owes the American people an explanation.”

As vice president, Cheney's father also predicted that terrorists would strike the United States again. During a 2002 appearance on "Meet the Press," Dick Cheney said, "The prospect of another attack against the United States is very, very real," adding that it was "not a matter of if, but when."